Crime Expert: Stand-Your-Ground Laws Help Blacks, Women, Elderly

African Americans, women, and the elderly are more likely to benefit from the controversial "stand-your-ground" laws than other groups, according to John Lott Jr., president of the Crime Prevention Research Center.

"Blacks are more likely to be successful in making claims using stand-your-ground than any other racial group. They benefit in many ways," Lott told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.

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"Blacks who live in high-crime urban areas are the people most likely to be victims of violent crime in the U.S. and it would be great if the police were able to protect them all the time but they can't," Lott said.

"It turns out that having a gun, owning a gun, being able to carry a concealed handgun, benefits blacks more than other groups simply because they're more likely to be victims of violent crime," he said.

Stand-your-ground laws are in effect in nine states, including Florida, where neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman fatally shot black teenager Trayvon Martin during a tragic confrontation last year.

The law gives individuals the right to use deadly force to defend themselves without having to retreat.

"'Stand-your-ground is just one example of something that makes it easier for people to be able to go and defend themselves," said Lott, author of "More Guns, Less Crime."

"Women and the elderly, people who are relatively weaker, physically, benefit more from having a gun," he said.

Lott criticized the Democrats, who he said claim they want to help people in disadvantaged areas, but end up hindering them when it comes to safety.

"The Democrats often claim that they care about helping poor people but what do they support? They support taxes and fees on people being able to go and own guns," he said.

"Who do they think gets priced out of being able to own guns when they do things like that, when they go and try to restrict these types of laws? Who do they think [will bear] the brunt?"